Conclusion

The book concludes with some thoughts on the differential impact that gender norms may have on presidential-level elections compared to those at lower levels of office. The chapter offers further reflections about the dynamics of down-ballot candidates’ responses to the presidential race, asking what these campaigns say about the effectiveness of gender-normative appeals and tactics, and about the ways in which the American party system is capable, given the recent trend toward political polarization, of allowing candidates to distance themselves from their parties and their parties’ presidential candidates. And finally, the conclusion looks at the tendency to use gender-normative masculinity—in the form of homophobia—as a means of making fun of Trump in the post-election period, and explain why doing so, even against a hypermasculine politician—can reinforce gender inequality in the long run.